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WISCONSIN 



^ General description: Much of Wisconsin has been glaciated, and many wetlands 



Q occur in the poorly drained depressions. Some of these are typical acid bogs; 



22 others, underlain by calcareous deposits, have developed into fens, dominated 



by sedges. Special wetland sites, found between ridges along the shores of Lake 

 Michigan, have had a lacustrine origin. Some of these have developed into bogs 

 (Ridges Sanctuary) and some into wet prairie (Chiwaukee Prairie). Extensive 

 marshes occur south of Lake Winnebago (Horicon Marsh) and at the delta of 

 the Bad River ( Kakagon Sloughs). Wooded bottomlands occur along the Missis- 

 sippi and its tributaries, notably the Chippewa (the Nelson-Trevino, and Tiffany 

 Bottoms). For a discussion of the vegetation of the state see Curtis ( 1959). 



Status of the wetlands: Some of the best of the state's wetland areas that have 

 been reported have already been acquired for protection by various governmen- 

 tal agencies and private organizations. Former disturbances on some of these 

 areas, such as draining and damming, are now being corrected as in the case of 

 the Horican Marsh and Cedarburg Bog. Timber removal occurred 30 years ago 

 on the Chippewa Bottoms. This activity no longer takes place. Dumping was re- 

 ported on the Hub City Bog. Wildlife management takes place on certain of the 

 state and federal holdings such as those on the Horican Marsh. 



Sources of data: The Wetlands Inventory of Wisconsin (USDI 1955) provides a 

 wealth of information, and the Reports on Wisconsin Scientific Areas (Scientific 

 Areas Preservation Council 1968, 1970) list a number of wetlands selected for 

 their outstanding values. There are also county inventories compiled by the 

 State Conservation Department. Mr. C. E. Germain of the Department of Natu- 

 ral Resources and Dr. Orie L. Loucks of the University of Wisconsin have been 

 especially helpful in providing data. 



Recommendations: Of the many bogs in Wisconsin, those in the Ridges Sanctua- 

 ry have already been designated as a Natural Landmark. The Mud Lake Wildlife 

 Area is contiguous and adds additional interesting habitats. The Cedarburg Bog 

 complex and Spruce Lake Bog are outstanding and also deserve high priority. 

 The former is somewhat alkaline and the latter more typically acid. They are al- 

 ready partly or entirely in state ownership. The Hub City and Hope Lake Bogs 

 are good and need protection. The Black Tern Bogs may be too small to warrant 

 consideration. The Chiwaukee Prairie may be the finest example of a wet prairie 

 still in existence in this country. It is now preserved in the ownership of The Na- 

 ture Conservancy and is administered by the University of Wisconsin. It should 

 be a Natural Landmark. Of the marshes and sloughs, the Horicon Marsh is the 

 largest. It has been restored following disturbance caused by drainage. The 

 Kakagon Sloughs on the Bad River Indian Reservation are a more outstanding 

 example of undisturbed habitat. The Endeavor Marsh is presently protected by 

 The Nature Conservancy and is worthy of recognition as a landmark. Rice Lake 

 has an outstanding example of sedge marsh with stands of wild rice. The Chip- 

 pewa River Bottoms are the best examples of wooded swamps in the state. The 

 Tower Hill Bottoms, although good, are much less extensive. 



Literature cited 



Curtis, J. T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin: an ordination of plant 

 communities. Univ. Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wis. p. 657. 



Scientific Areas Preservation Council. 1968. Wisconsin Scientific Areas. 

 1968 Report, p. 22. 



